OCR Text |
Show 30 METEOROLOGICAL AND HYPSOMETRICAL. Operations in this branch of the survey were conducted under the superintendence of the chiefs of parties, by a body of observers who had been carefully instructed in the details of observation as prepared for the work, and based upon the results of years of experience and care. Observations were taken, as usual, with a view to the compilation of altitudes, and a knowledge of the general climatic features of the regions traversed. Each party was provided with complete sets of instruments, including mercurial cistern- barometers, aneroid barometers, with attached thermometers, and hygrometers, and with means for cleaning and repairing, when necessary, the cistern- barometers. Besides instrumental observations, the amount of cloudiness, character and motion of clouds, the dircctiou and estimated velocity of the wind, fall of rain and dew, and other phenomena pertaining to this field of inquiry, were carefully observe^ and recorded. Observations on the cistern- barometer and hygrometer were taken at five hundred and seventy- two of the most important points along the routes, the number of observations at each point ranging from three to thirty- five, and aneroid and thermometer readiugs were taken at three thousand three hundred and thirty- five minor topographical stations, which, checked as they have been by comparisons with a cistern- barometer before leaving camp in the morning and immediately upon reaching camp in the evening, may be regarded as sufficient data from which to compute a reliable series of altitudes. Lieutenant Marshall submits a special report ( see Appendix F) upon the barometric work of the season, with a description of the system of observation, record, and reductiou in present use upon the survey. Much credit is due to Lieutenants K. L. Hoxie and Win. L. Marshall, Corps of Eugiueers, for the furtherance of the systematic organization of this branch of the work. NATURAL HISTORY. Hesults growing oat of inquiries in the subjects of geology, paleon tology, mineralogy, including chemical analysis of minerals, mineral waters, soils, plants, & c, zoology, and botauy, and reports thereon by individuals selected for the purpose, are all more or less calculated to increase our knowledge of the recent and extinct fauna and flora of the regions traversed, and, so far as compatible with the main object of the survey, to wit, the preparation of detailed topographical maps and an examination into the general resources of the region surveyed, these cognate scientific branches have each their representative or representatives. GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. Active geological operations were not prosecuted during the year, excepting by Prof. E. 1). Cope, as incidental to his paleontological researches in Northern New Mexico, and by Dr. O. Loew, as bearing upon the chemical and miueralogical investigations made by him in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. A report by Professor Cope ( Appendix G 1) gives the results of his geological work for the season; also one by Dr. Loew, of the same character. ( See Appendix G 2.) Professor Cope was fortunate in finding prolific fossil beds, especially of |